List of Up and Coming Features
Our programe of featured articles for the forthcoming year is currently under production.
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Help With Neutering Your Pets
Have you had your dog or cat neutered? Owners of most pets face the dilemma of neutering - operating to stop them breeding. In the majority of situations, the best advice is that having your pet neutered is the right choice.
Here at Abbeyfields our advice is that if your pet is not going to be the next winner in the show ring or field trials, where you need to keep a successful, healthy breeding line, then it will live a happier domestic life by being neutered. The Dogs Trust report that in 2007 they rehomed over 6130 dogs. So there are plenty of pets out there needing homes without the need to reproduce further.
But even with out concerns for the wider pet population, there are several areas to consider when you are pondering booking your pet in for its op and considering the expense.
Good effects on behaviour
Dogs historically were pack animals that would have been running along side their cousin the wolf. A lot of male dog behaviour would be driven by hormones – roaming, scent marking, looking for a mate, and living within a pack. One of the emotive arguments against castration is that it is unnatural.
Well, yes it is, but we expect our dogs to live in an unnatural world. They are subjected to pressures they would not encounter if they were running wild. Now they feel pressurised to be leader of the “family” pack – in some cases male dogs can start to scent mark in the house, mount the visiting vicar’s leg, escape to the bitch in the next street. These are mixed up messages to many male dogs and the feeling amongst behaviourists like Roger Mugford is that male dogs in a domestic home will lead a happier life if neutered.
There is a 90% chance that roaming will stop with castration, and a 50% chance that scent marking will stop. The best time is to neuter younger pets before they get too set in their ways and learnt behaviour overrides their hormonal drive. It is similar with tom cats – all that spraying around gardens and fighting or looking for females can be stopped by neutering and you keep a calmer, more content cat.
And the girls...
The females in the household have their hormonal issues also – a female cat calling will surely attract all the neighbouring tom cats on a night out. Whilst those bitches which are unfortunate enough to experience false pregnancies after a season can spend days digging under the roses or hiding under the kitchen table with imaginary puppies. But there are health concerns if you don’t neuter also – It is estimated that up to half of bitches which have not been spayed will get a potentially fatal womb infection called a pyometra. There is also good data that if bitches are spayed before their first season the risk of mammary cancers is virtually eliminated. If you spay between first and second seasons the risk is still good at only 8%, compared to the general population. With female cats, neutering avoids endless tomcats calling and inevitable kittens, besides the potential risk of feline AIDS from the visiting tom, which may be passed during mating. Older males dog can suffer prostate problems, local tumours and even hernias to the rear if they are really unlucky. Whilst the un-neutered tom cat can become pulled down with chronic bite wounds from fighting his territory, thickened skin, greasy tails and even Aids and leukaemia infections from all his liaisons.
The down sides?
Well these are minor by comparison to the gains. You may get a slightly fluffier coat in certain breeds of dog. Potential weight gain can be avoided with the diet. Nobody really mentions down sides for cats. They seem to drift into happy contentment in the family home and most enthusiasts agree a neutered tomcat is the nicest type to moggy to have. So you have a general idea of the pros and cons to neutering, but cost is a consideration for even the best made plans.
Here is where we can help...
We have secured a discounted scheme for all pet owners, with no means testing and no vouchers. We can offer the same standard of care to your pets as you would come to expect even without an offer. But for 2009 it is discounted and fixed price. So with no compromise on anaesthetic agents, suture materials, monitoring equipment, painkillers and post op care, that’s one less thing to worry about. If you were considering neutering your pet, you can now get it booked. Take advantage of the Clinic offers on neutering in 2009 and give us a call on 01889 590449. Remember – bitches must not be spayed too near their next season. So if you have any doubts, or the timing is wrong in October, call us for a free voucher and bank the discounted cost until up to 6 months later.
For 2009 - Neuter Scheme Prices (prices include VAT)
Cat Spay - £40.00
Cat Castrate - £25.00
Bitch Spay (small<15Kg) - £120.00
Bitch Spay (>15 kg) - £150.00
Dog Castrate ( < 15 kg) - £75.00
Dog Castrate (>15 Kg) - £100.00
Costs are inclusive of pre op checks, sedation and GA, the procedure with nurse and machine monitoring , post op painkillers for the next few days, use of protective collar if needed, re-examination after the operation and sutures buried under the skin so your pet cant chew.
But if you have any general questions , call 01889 590449 or email vet@abbeyfieldsvets.co.uk
Healthy Hearts!
We all know that our hearts need to be healthy and our pets’ hearts are no different. Around 15 per cent of dogs in the UK are affected by heart disease and the initial signs can often go unnoticed. Early screening is the best way to combat this.
Bring your dog into the practice for a heart check will see it benefit from a full examination including weight check and cardiac auscultation. We may also take and ECG and Blood Pressure Check if appropriate. We’ll also be advising you on the signs to look out for and what you can do to help your pet stay healthy with some dietary guidance and fitness advice.
A simple check-up can reassure you that your dog’s heart is fit and healthy and should a problem be diagnosed, you’ll be comforted to know that timely intervention can help ensure a better quality of life and indeed a longer life for your pet.
Pop into the practice and make an appointment or ring 01889 590449 for further details.
How Can Our Checks Help Your Pet?
Heart disease can creep up unnoticed in many pets. The first thing you may notice is lethargy, increased tiredness and perhaps a mild soft cough. Once these signs start to appear there is often significant disease present. The aim of detection and treatment, therefore, is to identify these signs, try to stop their progression and maintain your pet's wellbeing for longer. Studies grade heart disease on a scale of I to V where I is the least affected stage. We can classify your pets heart disease into one of these 5 classes, depending upon what signs we detect. Treatment is directed at slowing the movement into the next category. In many cases we see some reversal of signs and your pet " steps back down" the heart disease ladder. Good News! This means longer and happier life for your pet than if heart disease remained undetected.
What Can We Offer??
Well during September book in for a free heart check. This will be a check with a vet to see your pet's general health and weight and listen to its heart to screen for 2 things - heart rate/rhythm and the presence of murmurs. This simple approach yields a lot of useful information since differences from normal here can mean there is some structural disease like heart enlargement or a leaky valve. Tests aren't going to detect every pet but they certain help in the majority of cases.
Say we find something odd?
Well that is where we can help further. Follow up tests may be recommended. These can be ECG recordings for rate/ rhythm, blood pressure testing, chest xrays and importantly heart ultrasound scanning. The tests we undertake would depend upon discussions with your selves, defining what we hope to resolve. There would be costs here but in September we offer a 50% reduction in normal fees. Typically your pet may be able to be tested with chest xrays and cardiac ultrasound for around £100. Any costs would be discussed with you before any action taken.
What is the point of this testing?
Well to ensure your pet keeps healthy and happy for as long as possible. Heart disease which progresses to slow, out of breath pets , no longer able to go for walks or play with their owners is no fun for anyone. Not to mention the additional stress it places your pet under. Using the correct tests helps us identify risk andplan for the future, using specialist advice as needed and selecting the correct treatment.
Who may get heart problems?
Any pet is potentially at risk. Factors which make it more likely are pets who are older, pets who are very over weight, pets with other diseases, pets who cough at the moment and also certain purebreeds. We see a lot of problems in our friends the cavalier king charles spaniels, shih tzus, westies , large breeds like dobermans and irish wolfhounds. Similarly old cats with high thyroid levels may be hiding a poorly heart.
How do you treat heart disease?
First you find out what type of disease is present. Then you select your medication. ( Rarely there may be surgical choices). A lot of heart disease responds best to a blend of medication to help the heart in different ways. This mix may change over time depending how your pet responds. Sadly with a lot of heart problems the problem inevitably progresses to complete failure despite medication. This has a complex underlying basis and reflects the severity of the problems we may face. But, if we get it right, your pet has many happy actie years ahead of it! Regular heart monitorring is a must however!
So what's next?
Think if your pet is slower than before, more tired, coughing andmake contact to pay us a visit. If you are not sure, well come for coffee anyway!
Pet Travel Scheme
The Pet Travel Scheme ("PETS") is a scheme which allows animals to travel easily between member countries without undergoing quarintine. A Pet Passport is a document that officially records information related to a specific animal, as part of that procedure. The effect is to drastically speed up and simplify travel with animals, and transport of animals, between member countries, compared to previous procedures, if the regulations are followed. Hence the surge in owners who now regularly take their pets abroad.
The pet passport was originally suggested by the UK's Official Monster Raving Loony Party. Every country has different requirements, both for export and import of animals, although some features are common to all.
Common features
All countries:
The pets must have a microchip placed beneath the skin that meets ISOP specification. A rabies vaccination and evidence via a blood test that it is working. There is an additional requirement that the pet cannot enter the UK for 6 months from the date of this blood test to make sure it is rabies free initially. Sometimes certain carriers or import/export points only, will allow animals.
Specific country regulations for the United Kingdom
Once a pet has received the required microchip, rabies vaccination, blood sample 3 to 4 weeks later and been issued its passport, it is free to leave the UK. But NOTE - it cannot initially return until 6 months after the date the rabies blood test was taken.
There are further strict requirements -
A Health check from a vet in the country you are leaving and a tick and tapeworm between 24 and 48 hours prior to arrival. This time interval is strictly adhered to.
The PETS scheme is not yet standardised. This leads to much confusion. Every journey between any two countries should be researched separately to ensure that the animal will be accepted for travel upon arrival at the departure point. The major delay in obtaining a pet passport is the time requirement for the rabies vaccination. REMEMBER also that you must strictly adhere to revaccination requirements. The interval may be 3 years between vaccines for pets in the UK. But an animal whose rabies vaccination is allowed to go out of date by even one day.
Pet owners must check with DEFRA on current requirements - follow the link below - and no responsibility can be taken by the author if the scheme changes after the time of publication.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/index.htm
Medication which Complies with the Scheme ( Courtesy of DEFRA)
Treatment against ticks and tapeworms
Before entering or re-entering the UK under PETS, dogs and cats must be treated by a vet against ticks and the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis.
The treatment must be carried out not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours before the pet is checked-in with the approved transport company to travel on the return journey to the UK. The treatment must be given every time a pet enters the UK.
Treatment
The animal’s microchip number must be read before treatment and match the number in section III of the passport . The tapeworm treatment must contain praziquantel and be administered in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The tick treatment must be a veterinary product which has marketing authorisation in the country of use and is licensed for use against ticks. A tick collar is not acceptable.
Pet Health Whilst Abroad
You should be aware that if you take your pet out of the UK, it may be exposed to diseases which we do not have in the UK, e.g. diseases transmitted by the bite of ticks, and parasites such as heartworm and tapeworm. It will have no natural immunity to such diseases and may therefore be more likely to succumb to them. Some of these disease can affect humans. Depending on where you are going, your vet may be able to advise you on preventative treatments, on any other precautions you need to take and how to look for signs of ill health in your pet. If your pet shows signs of illness after returning from abroad, explain where it has been so that your vet can consider the possibility of an illness not normally found in the UK. A scheme called DACTARI (Dog and Cat Travel and Risk Information) has been set up to record the occurrence of these diseases in dogs and cats. Read about the Scheme to find out why you should get involved and please remind your vet about it.
Senior Wellness Check ups
Too often we see our pets as merely “getting old” when they become slower or not so keen to play, or perhaps change their appetite or weight. But actually there may be reasons behind these changes which we can identify and simply correct - all to give you and your pets longer, healthier times together.
So its time to get to grips with older pet concerns.
Let’s give you some examples - the biggest thing to influence life span of cats over the past 15 - 20 years has been the quality of the food they eat. Every one will have seen the ranges of cat foods in vets, pet stores or supermarkets which target kittens, adults or senior pets. Pet Food Companies realised that if they controlled the level and quality of protein in cat food, together with salts and minerals, the results were amazing. Through these changes we now regularly see cats that are 18 or 19 years old. Now if you detect your cat has early kidney failure signs upon a blood test, you can adjust the diet even further to help them cope. There are tablets also which are proven to extend their life another 9 months plus and even help them gain some of their lost weight.
Many older dogs become sluggish, perhaps not so keen to go for a walk and often are a few lbs heavier than in their younger years. Yep, it might be middle age spread, but we often look for low thyroid hormones in these candidates. Pets with low thyroid hormones have an answer to their slowness and a daily supplement can take years off them and perhaps return the younger pet you remember.
Some pets are just chubby with no other medical problems - but even these days there are diet tablets for pets. So if you are struggling to diet your robust Labrador, besides the right food you can start slimming pills for a 6 month kick start.
Call the Surgery and we will do the rest.
Microchips
The month of June was been designated “National Microchip Month”. There is a nationwide campaign to register pets, which brings many benefits. A unique 15 digit number in the microchip which is implanted into your pet is their chip for life. Wherever your pet finds itself, its unique number will identify it to you. All that is required is a microchip reader. These are universal and can pick up any brand of chip. All Vets, most local authorities, police and rescue centres have chip readers and these days many lost pets are reunited quickly. The same chips are also valid for the “ Pet Travel Scheme”, for travel abroad. All you need on top is active rabies vaccination and you can join the scheme.
I remember a case two years ago on Bonfire night where the value of a microchip came into its own. One of my clients was passing Blithfield Reservoir as the fireworks were exploding all around. A collie was frantically running along the road and into traffic. The lady managed to call the collie to her. Subsequently it arrived at the surgery and was having a fit as she arrived. We scanned and found the chip. By contacting “Petlog”, the national database we learnt the dog was a confirmed epileptic and were able to treat the fits with medication that suited it. The owner was contacted, who was frantically searching for the dog and within perhaps one hour of the incident the owner knew their dog was safe and came to collect it.
Microchips cost £20.000
Wormers 4 for 3
Worming is still an ongoing maintenance concern for dogs and cats. Cats have the constant infection route from wild life they capture whilst out and about. Particularly as a source of roundworms. But in dogs the picture is changing. There are always public health concerns towards the old and the young from cross infection with worms such as toxocara. More recently continental worms and worms from wildlife are gaining prominence. We are starting to see cases of so called French lung worm and heartworm , plus hookworm from foxes. This emphasises the need for a rolling worming programe. You may think it makes little odds, but worming deals with what you cant see before its too late. Vets know, for example , that a dog with heart worm will almost certainly die from the disease. Yet regular worming can prevent this ever happening.
Pets should be wormed at least 4 times a year. Vets can advise on protocols to suit your situation. We can offer 4 doses for the price of 3 all year round. So buy a year’s supply of wormers in one go and save 25% of the cost.
